Zoar residents get good news - levee won't be breached

Friday

Nov 22, 2013 at 9:30 AM

ZOAR Residents of the historic community of Zoar can breath a sigh of relief today.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is no longer considering breaching the Zoar Levee as an alternative for dealing with problems with the aging flood-control structure. The levee protects the village from flooding by the Tuscarawas River.

Jon Baker TimesReporter.com staff writer @jbakerTR

ZOAR Residents of the historic community of Zoar can breath a sigh of relief today.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is no longer considering breaching the Zoar Levee as an alternative for dealing with problems with the aging flood-control structure. The levee protects the village from flooding by the Tuscarawas River.

Residents learned the news at a meeting Thursday evening at the Zoar Schoolhouse with corps officials.

In March 2011, the corps classified the 75-year-old levee as a Dam Safety Action Classification 1, meaning that repairs were urgent and compelling. The federal agency launched a study to determine what should be done with the levee. One option was to breach it and flood the village.

The corps completed its baseline risk assessment for the levee in October. In doing so, it reclassified the levee as a Dam Safety Action Classification 3, meaning the possibility of failure is moderate to high.

"As we continue with the study, we will look at deficiencies that need to be addressed to certify the levee for a 1 percent event, a 100-year flood," said Rodney Cremeans, project manager for the Huntington District of the Army Corps of Engineers. "One of the goals is to certify the levee."

"To know that historic Zoar Village will no longer be threatened with being torn down but will remain intact for future generations to utilize and enjoy is great news," said Mayor Larry Bell. "I have heard from people from around the country that historic Zoar Village is truly a national treasure that is worthy of preserving."